With Ms. Addo at the helm, spearheading the Edeline Project, middle school students welcomed Edeline herself on campus this morning, and gathered all school supplies donations on her truck. The donations will now go to Haiti in different schools, and class supplies and 2 laptops given by SDFAS will be immediately put to good use.
Thank you to all students and families for their generosity, thank you to Ms. Addo for this meaningful and concrete action to help students in Haiti!
On December 11, 2018 , Stephanie Gontran, a French Speech Therapist, conducted a parent workshop in French on the theme of the cognitive development of the child from early childhood to teenage years. The discussion focused on how parents can effectively and as best as they can foster a positive and supportive environment for their child, so that the child can learn. Kindness and respecting the pace of each child were key concepts that underlined the lively and passionated discussion.
Thank you to all parents who attended, and thank you to Ms. Gontran for sharing her expansive knowledge and experience of more than 20 years of practice.
On December 4, 2018, Marie-Christine Nibagwire, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, visited SDFAS.
The one-hour discussion with the 8th graders provided a space to discuss why people leave their countries around the world, what being a refugee means, what the international laws are, and what it feels and takes for refugees to settle down in the country that welcomes them.
“I suffered, I strived to survive, I now thrive and live to make a difference in my generation”. These are the purposeful and powerful words of Ms. Nibagwire. We would like to thank her for her visit, and also thank Mr. Prud’homme for organizing the event.
Read more about Marie-Christine Nibagwire
Before the genocide, Marie-Christine was happy in her job as accountant, in her marriage and as a young mother of a two-year-old daughter. She escaped in horror, without any luggage, money or document, stepping on the dead bodies of her loved ones.
Carrying her daughter on her back, Marie-Christine crossed three other African countries, on foot, experiencing, not only hunger and starvation but also all kinds of abuse of human rights. In 1998, out of desperation for peace, security and seeking asylum without success, Marie-Christine then entered the United Kingdom illegally. Luckily, after much consideration of her situation, the British authorities granted her asylum, then citizenship.
Marie-Christine was then able to connect with other survivors of the Rwandan Genocide and wars of Africa who had arrived in West Europe and North America. They were all bleeding because of their loss, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders, culture shock. The people around them, even professionals, who were supposed to help them, had not understood the weight of the pain and suffering that comes out of such tragedy as genocide.
In 2001, after completing her training in Mentoring and Counselling Refugees, Marie-Christine resigned from her paid job as Procurement Manager of Eurostar UK to devote herself fully to helping survivors of the Rwandan Genocide and wars in Africa find a safe refuge. She then founded an organisation called “Saferefugerwanda” with the following aims:
Marie-Christine Nibagwire has many qualifications and experiences in Mentoring and Counselling Refugees, in Peacebuilding, Meditation, Security and Human Rights, Western Etiquette. She also has a Degree in Contextual Theology and is a Licensed Minister of the Church of England, serving the Diocese of London in the leadership of Holy Trinity Brompton Church, located in Kensington, London. She has influenced many faith groups on caring for refugees and has taken teams in Africa to set up generating income projects for single parents and youth refugees: sewing, jewellery and basket making. Such projects have helped parents to meet the basic needs of their families even sending their children to school. The projects for young people have saved many from sexually immoralities, gangs recruits, human trafficking, modern day slavery and risky and dangerous ways to migrate to Europe.
Marie-Christine Nibagwire speaks 5 languages fluently and has traveled in more than 33 countries and states. She is known for her ability to relate and communicate easily to people from different cultures, colours and classes. Her story and her work have been published in different magazines including “The Changemakers”, “Absolutely Notting Hill”. She has also spoken on different radios including “The Vatican Radio” and spoken in different television programs in Europe and in the USA.
Marie-Christine has been a key helper in her community and neighborhood in North Kensington. Drawing from her experience as a genocide survivor who has demonstrated a high level of resilience, she also offered her trauma Counselling, Peacebuilding to bring healing and peace among the survivors and trauma victims of the Grenfell Tower Fire. For her social impact, Marie-Christine received, from the House of Parliament, the “African Achievers Award” on the 5th July 2018.
Should you want to know more of Marie-Christine’s testimonies and those of her children, or to join her in her projects mentioned above, please do not hesitate to contact her on whatsapp +447904211018 or by email saferefugerwanda@gmail.com
Do you remember? On October 5, 2018, the whole middle school made 43 colorful blankets for children in Haiti, partnering with the local charity “Children Help Children Int’l”. The blankets were delivered at the end of October. Students also wrote and sent nice letters alongside the blankets.
Tatiana Zunshine, the president of the charity, whose Blankids is the brain child, is now happy to share with us the photos she received from Shepherds House orphanage in Haiti – the one that received our SDFAS blankets.
In her own words: “You can see the kids (with smily faces:) holding our blankets. Hope these photos will make our kids smile as well. Please tell them I said “hi” and that they are the best:)))!”
Thank you to all students and faculty, and Mark’s support to make this happen!
One blanket at a time can make a difference, and many blankets, together, much more!
Ms. Seidel opened the Chapeau Ticket Store in Middle School on December 7: the store’s selection enables students to exchange their “chapeau tickets” for desirable items such as healthy drinks, snacks and goodies. Chapeau tickets are a highly prized currency in Middle School and they reward exceptional achievements and citizenship. Thank you, Ms. Seidel!
On November 30, 2018, a group of middle school students engaged their audience of middle school students, 5th graders and parents in a thoughtful ceremony. Students carefully crafted a presentation that involved reading of soldiers’ letters, a song by students, reenactment of the day of the Armistice, and piano pieces played by students. We all observed one minute of silence in remembrance of past generations, one hundred years ago.
Thank you to Mr. Prud’homme for spearheading the project and letting students express their awareness and emotions in their own ways. It created a special and profoundly meaningful moment in our busy school life to reflect together on past events and not forget history as to build a better present and future.
L.I.V.E stands for : Leadership Initiative Volunteerism Empathy
Under the leadership of Ms. Aseltine, English Middle School teacher, the primary Objectives of LIVE Club are to develop student leadership and initiative on campus and in our community, develop student passion for school and community engagement, raise awareness about global and local issues through facilitated discussions and events on campus, and develop student self and social awareness of one’s role at school, in the community, and in the world.
This trimester, students enrolled in the L.I.V.E. Club enthusiastically embraced the cause of sustainability. They decided to try to raise awareness around campus, touring Elementary school classrooms in order to engage younger students. Nicola (8th grade) did also attend one of the MS Staff meeting, and presented to teachers with the goal of engaging adults as well.
